Gujarat government has announced a total of Rs17.10 crores of assistance to 156 municipalities in the state. This fund will be mainly aimed at helping the civic bodies to carry out repair and recovery work in areas affected by heavy rainfall and related flood-like situations. Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel has approved the immediate release of the first stage of the grant to the municipalities.
This fund is likely to be used by the civic bodies to ensure proper rain-water drainage, availability of clean drinking water in flooded regions and manage the disposal of solid and other wastes. The civic bodies are also expected to use pesticides and other methods that will help prevent the spread of waterborne diseases and other epidemics in the cities.
According to the statement, in the first stage, 22 municipalities of ‘A’ class will each get Rs20 lakhs with a total Rs4.40 crore. Besides, 30 ‘B’ class municipalities each will get Rs15 lakh with a total of Rs4.50 crore, and 60 municipalities of category ‘C’ will receive Rs10 lakhs each and a total Rs6 crores. Finally, 44 ‘D’ class municipalities will be given Rs5 lakh each, as per total Rs2.20 crores.
